Man Breaks His Own Record For Most Marathons in a Year

A marathon on a Wednesday that consists of 58.72 laps of a pedestrian walkway isn't the sort to draw a massive field, but you can count on one thing--if you hold it, Larry Macon will run it.

Macon, 67, ran the 12-12-12 Marathon in Sarasota, Florida, on Wednesday, Florida's Herald-Tribune reports. It was his 139th marathon of the year. In other sports, Macon might be accused of running up the score, because in the fall he had already broken for the fourth consecutive year the Guinness Book of World Records mark for most marathons in a year. Last year, after all, Macon ran a mere 113 races of 26.2 miles or longer.

Macon documents his races at, appropriately enough, the Marathon Maniacs site. As of this writing, he's been busier running marathons than updating his travels, as the last entry concerns November 25's Seattle Marathon. Slacker!

In a 2009 Runner's World interview, Macon said that he owes his record as much to logistical abilities as to athleticism. Given how marathons are usually held on weekends, Macon does a lot of weekend doubles and triples, and sometimes doesn't have time for a private shower while in transit. In the video below, filmed in 2009, Macon discusses his motivation as well as his method for changing clothes at a stoplight.

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Scott DouglasScott is a veteran running, fitness, and health journalist who has held senior editorial positions at Runner’s World and Running Times.

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